Automatic closing device for windows



AUTOMATIC CLOSING DEVICE FOR WINDOWS Filed Oct. 2, 1929 W 1 L- J It is hereby certified that this sheet of drawing should be substituted for the Lancaster drawing which was inadvertently attached to Patent No. 1,818,023.

Signed and seaied this 17th day of November. A. D. 1931.

M.. J. Moore,

(Sea!) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Aug. 11, 1931. 1.. WASHBURN AUTOMATIC CLOSING DEVICE FOR WINDOWS Filed Oct. 2, 1929 lllllllllllll I Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LORING WASHIBURN, OF GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO S. H. POMEROY'GOM- PANY, INQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK AUTOMATIC CLOSING DEVICE FOR WINDOWS Application filed October 2, 1929.

It is old in the art to provide means whereby the mass of the counterbalance weights ofv the lower sash shall be transferred to the counterbalance weights of the upper sash so that when the lower sash is released from its counterbalance weights, as in the event of fire, not only will the lower sash drop from an open position to a fully closed position but the upper sash will be raised from an open position to a fully closed position. Various devices intended to permit such a result to be accomplished have been proposed heretofore but have been so complicated in construction or so liable to derangement that they have not gone into general use or have been of such a character as to render it impossible to let the meeting rails of the two sashes pass the top and bottom rails of the two sashes, respectively, after the automatic closing devices have been installed so that the meeting rails can be properly and completely painted, whereby it has been impossible to complete the installation of the automatic closing devices when the rest of the installation of the window is accomplished and it has been necessary to complete the installation of the automatic closing devices at a later time after the palnting job has been completed, thus increasing the cost of installation.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an automatic closing device which will permit the meeting rails of the two sashes to pass the top and bottom rails of the two sashes, respectively, and the painting job to be completed after the closing devices have been installed. In accordance with the invention there is connected to each of the counterbalance weights of the lower sash, a lost motion connector to engage at its other end the corresponding counterbalance weight of the upper sash and of such length as to allow, after its installation, sufficient relative movement of the two sashes to permit the meeting rails to be exposed for painting. The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter in reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illustrated, and in which:

Figure l is a view in sectional elevation Serial No. 396,824.

showing a portion of a window jamb with the counterbalanceweights, chains and pulleys and the improved device through which the mass of the lower sash weight may be applied to the upper sash weight when the lower sash weight is released from the lower sash; V V

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the relations of the parts when the lower sash weight is about released, the positions of the two sashes being those assumed after the lower sash weights have been released, the lower sa sh itself with its connection to the chain connection and the upper sash being indicated by broken lines.

Figure 3 is a View in section on the irregular plane indicated by the broken lines 3 -3 of Figure 1, looking down. The construction of each window jamb a and of the head Y) may be as usual orpreferred, each jamb being adapted to receive within itself the upper sash weight 0 and the lower sash weight (Z, and to support the sash pulleys e and 7' over which pass the counterbalance chains 9 and h by which the sash weights '0 and d are connected, respectively, with the upper sash c and the lower sash (Z Each chain it of the lower sash is shown as provided at some point where it will be exposed outside of the jamb when the lower sash has been raised, with a fusible link of usual construction, shown as comprising two parts i and 2' which are united by a ball 2' held. in place by easily fusible solder. To each lower sash weight cl, as at Z0 is connected a lost motion connector is, preferably a short length of chain, which has at its other enda device, such as a hook 70 adapted for engagement with the upper sash weight 0, preferably engaging directly the chain *9 of the upper sash weight. The conneetor 7c furnishes a means by which the lower sash weight d is connected to the upper sash weight 0 so that the mass of the lower sash weight shall be added to the mass of the upper sash weight when the lower sash weight is released from the lower sash through the operation of the fusible link or in any other way. Not only is the connector preferably flexible but, in order that the purposes of the invention may be realized, it is of such length as to provide for limited lost motion as between the upper and lower sash weights at each side, so that when the window with its automatic closing device has been completely installed the lower sash can be raised with respect to the upper sash 3o permit the meeting rail of the lower sash to be exposed above the top rail of the upper sash for painting when the upper sash has been lowered and similarly so that the upper sash can be lowered with respect to the raised lower sash to permit the meeting rail of the upper sash to be exposed for ainting.

While the foregoing description has related mainly to the sash weights and chains at one side of the window it will be understood that a similar connector is provided at each side or the window. It will also be understood that the form of each connector employed may be varied to suit convenience provided it is-of such a character as to permit limited lost motion as between the two sashes suflicient to expose the meeting rails, as above described.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a window the combination of upperand lower sashes, upper and lower sash weights, chains connecting the sash weights with the sashes, respectively, the chain of the lower sash being separable, and a lost motion connector connected to each lower sash weight adapted to so engage the corresponding upper sash weight'as to impose its weight thereon when the lower sash weight is released, said lost motion connector bein adapted to permit the lower sash wei lit to drop substantially below the level of the upper sash weight before causing the weight of the lower sash weight to be imposed upon said upper sash weight.

2. In a window the combination of upper and lower sashes, upper and lower sash weights, chains connecting the sash weights with the sashes, respectively, the chain of the lower sash being separable, and a relatively slack and flexible connector connected to each lower sash weight adapted to so engage the corresponding upper sash weight as to impose its weight thereon when'the lower sash weight is released, said slack and flexible connector being adapted to permit the lower sash weight to drop substantially below the level of the upper sash weight before causing the weight of the lower sash weight to be imposed upon said upper sash weight.

This specification signed this 27th day of September, A. D. 1929.

. LORING VASHBURN. 

